Fishing device suitable for cooperating with a fishing rod

ABSTRACT

A fishing device  1,  for automatically hooking a fish, has a spring  23  that can be tautened and held in a taut condition by a blocking device  37.  An end of the spring  23  is coupled to a hook  27  behind which a fishing line, coming from a fishing rod, can be hooked. The fishing line also runs over a sensor  47.  If a fish bites the fishing line is pulled taut and the sensor  47  lifts the blocking of the spring  23.  Thus the spring  23  loosens, and the hook  27  gives a pull to the fishing line and the fish is hooked. During the hooking the fishing line is held in place by a clamping device  53,  and after the fish is hooked the fishing line is released. Thus the reel of the fishing rod can continually stay in the slip position to prevent the fishing rod from being pulled into the water by the fish, to facilitate quick catching of the fish without first having to remove the reel from the blocking position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the invention

[0002] The invention relates to a fishing device suitable forcooperating with a fishing rod, for automatically hooking a fish,comprising a frame, a spring device for giving a pull on the fishingline at the moment that a fish pulls on the fishing line, which springdevice is coupled to the frame with one end, a blocking device to keepthe spring device taut, a deblocking device for deactivating theblocking device at the moment that a fish pulls on the fishing line, anda carrier device for cooperating with a fishing line, which carrierdevice is coupled to the other end of the spring device.

[0003] 2. Prior art

[0004] Such a fishing device is known from FR-A-2 204 349. Here afishing line is led around a sensor and then behind a hook. The hook isconnected with a taut spring. The spring is kept taut by a pawl, whichis connected to the sensor. If a fish bites the fishing line is pulledand the sensor turns and the pawl releases the spring. The springloosens with a pull and takes the hook and the fishing line along withit such that the fish is hooked. At the end of the spring motion an armturns that loosens the fishing line from the hook.

[0005] A disadvantage of this known fishing device is that when thespring is released the fishing line is also unwound from the reel of thefishing line. Then the end of the fishing line with the fishhook and thefish on it is pulled less forcefully. Placing the reel in the blockingposition can eliminate this disadvantage. However, this has thedisadvantage that after hooking a fish the fish can pull the entirefishing rod into the water if the fishing rod is not grasped in time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An objective of the invention is to provide a fishing device ofthe type described in the preamble where the disadvantage of the knownfishing device that is mentioned above is not present. To this end thefishing device according to the invention is characterized in that thefishing device also comprises a clamping device, which is connected tothe frame for clamping a fishing line, as well as a loosening device fordeactivating the clamping device, which loosening device is activatedwhen the carrier device is moved, preferably near or at the end of themovement of the carrier device. With cooperation with a fishing rod thathas a reel on which fishing line is wound, the clamping device mustclamp the fishing line between the reel and the carrier device.

[0007] Here, during the hooking of the fish the fishing line cannot beunwound from the reel by the presence of the clamping device. Inaddition, after the fish is hooked the fishing line can be unwound fromthe reel by making use of the slip position of the reel, since theloosening device releases the clamping device after the fish is hooked.In addition, the landing of the fish is made easier with the aid of thereel because the reel does not need to first be removed from theblocking position but can also remain in the slip position while thefish is hooked.

[0008] To facilitate the tautening of the fishing line during theclamping of the fishing line, an embodiment of the fishing deviceaccording to the invention is characterized in that the clamping deviceis preferably adjustable in two sections, a first section where thefishing line is enclosed and is only moveable lengthwise on behalf ofthe tautening of the fishing line, and a second section where thefishing line is clamped tightly.

[0009] In a practical embodiment the loosening device comprises amoveable stop against which the carrier device stop, which stop iscoupled via a coupling device to the clamping device, and which stopreleases the clamping when moved.

[0010] As mentioned, it is desirable that after the fish is hooked thefishing line be released, so that the angler can use his fishing rod toland the fish. To release the fishing line an embodiment of the fishingdevice according to the invention is characterized in that the carrierdevice comprises a hook that can turn over.

[0011] For small fish a smaller tug is required than for large fish. Tobe able to adjust the size or length of the tug a further embodiment ischaracterized in that the place where the hook can turn over isadjustable.

[0012] A practical embodiment of the fishing device according to theinvention is characterized in that the frame comprises a tube, thespring device comprises a spring that can be moved in the tube, and thecarrier device comprises a sliding element that can be moved in thetube, which is connected to the spring and on which the hook is fastenedand can turn, whereby the hook is kept from turning by an upper wall ofthe tube and can turn at the site of the opening in the upper wall ofthe tube.

[0013] When fishing for large fish a larger tug on the fishing line isdesired than when fishing for small fish. So preferably the length ofthe tug should be adjustable. To this end the opening in the upper wallof the tube extends over a large part of the length, and the frame alsohas an element that can be slid over the tube, which also has anopening, whereby the hook is also kept from turning by the upper wall ofthe element, and can only turn at the site of the opening in theelement.

[0014] An embodiment of the fishing device according to the invention ischaracterized in that the fishing device comprises a release device forreleasing the fishing line after the spring device has loosened. Thishas the advantage that when the fish is landed, the fishing line neednot be loosened first from the fishing device.

[0015] Preferably the carrier device and/or the loosening device arepart of the release device.

[0016] A further embodiment of the fishing device according to theinvention is characterized in that the deblocking device comprises asensor, which during use is in contact with the fishing line and whentautening the fishing line moves and thus pulls the blocking deviceaway.

[0017] When large fish are caught in wild water the sensor should movewhen there is more pulling strength in the fishing line than whencatching smaller fish in calm water. To make this possible, the sensorhas a line guide element, which can be moved along the sensor. By movingthe line guide element, the length of the arm changes on which thepulling force in the fishing line works, such that the lever function isinfluenced.

[0018] To be better able to adjust the force that is required to movethe blocking device, the sensor is preferably moveable against a springforce, and the deblocking device comprises an adjusting feature foradjusting this spring force.

[0019] Yet another embodiment of the fishing device according to theinvention is characterized in that the fishing device also comprises aline feed system, which line feed system comprises a protrusion that ispresent on the upper wall of the tube on one side of a slot in the tubevia which the fishing line is led to the carrier device, and which linefeed system also comprises two other protrusions that are also on thetube on the other side of the slot and that stick out past the sidewalls of the tube. How this line feed system can be used will beexplained below using the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will be elucidated more fully below on the basis ofdrawings in which an embodiment of the fishing device according to theinvention is shown. In these drawings:

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a fishing set-up where an embodiment of the fishingdevice according to the invention cooperates with a fishing rod;

[0022]FIG. 2 shows a front view of the fishing device before the fishingline is coupled to it and in a non-tautened condition;

[0023]FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the fishing device ina non-tautened condition;

[0024]FIG. 4 shows a front view of the fishing device after the fishingline is coupled to it and in a tautened condition; and

[0025]FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the fishing device ina tautened condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In FIG. 1 a fishing set-up is shown in which an embodiment of thefishing device 1 according to the invention cooperates with a fishingrod 3. The fishing rod 3 is placed on two posts 5 and the fishing device1 is placed in the ground 7 between the reel 9 and a first subsequentguide ring 11 of the fishing rod 3. If desired, the fishing device 1 canalso be placed elsewhere, for example between two guide rings, and thefishing device 1 can be fastened for example to the fishing rod insteadof in the ground. The fishing device 1 works only together with thefishing line 13 of the fishing rod 3. Thus the fishing device 1 can workwith any fishing rod at all. The fishing line 13 is pulled from thefishing rod 3 and coupled to the fishing device 1.

[0027]FIGS. 2 and 3 show the fishing device before the fishing line iscoupled to it and in a non-tautened condition. FIGS. 4 and 5 show thefishing device after the fishing line is coupled to it and in a tautenedcondition. The fishing device 1 has a frame 15 consisting of arectangular tube 17, which has at one end a pin 19 for placing in theground 7. The fishing device 1 also has an element that can be shiftedwith respect to the tube 17, which in this example is a sleeve 21 thatcan go over the tube 17.

[0028] In the tube 17 there is a spring device, which is formed by adraw spring 23. The draw spring 23 is fastened with an end to the end ofthe sleeve 21. It is, however, also possible that the draw spring 23 isfastened to the end of the tube 17 instead of to the sliding sleeve 21.At the other end of the draw spring 23 there is a sliding element 25,which can be moved in the tube 17. The sliding element 25 has a carrierelement connected to it, which is executed as a hook 27. The hook 27 canbe turned between a first position in which a fishing line can be pulledalong (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and a second position where the hook releasesthe fishing line (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The hook 27 has a lip 29, which isin contact with an upper wall 31 of the tube 17 and blocks the hook 27against turning from the first position to the second position.

[0029] In the non-tautened position of the draw spring 23 (see FIGS. 2and 3) the hook 27 is across from a part of a long opening 33 in thetube 17 and an opening 35 in the sleeve 21. Between the hook 27 and thesliding element 25 there is a light further spring (not shown), whichpulls the hook 27 into the first position. Only at the site of theopening 35 in the sleeve 21 can the hook 27 turn. Because the sleeve 21can be slid over the tube 17, the place where the hook 27 can turn, andthus the fishing line can be released, is adjustable. The place of theopening 35 in the sleeve 21, therefore, determines the distance overwhich the fishing line is pulled and thus the length of the hookingmotion.

[0030] On the tube 17 there is a blocking device 37 to keep the drawspring 23 in the tautened condition. The blocking device 37 is formed bya turning blocking element 39, which has a blocking pawl 41 that holdsonto a notch 43 in the sliding element 25. The blocking element 39comprises a deblocking device 45 to pull away the blocking device 37 atthe moment that a fish pulls on the fishing line. A sensor 47, whichleads the fishing line at the free end, forms the deblocking device 45.When the fishing line is pulled taut the sensor 47 turns the blockingdevice 37, such that the blocking pawl 41 is pulled out of the notch 43and the sliding element 25 is released. The deblocking device 45 is partof the release device, which completely releases the fishing line afterthe spring device has loosened.

[0031] Between the turning blocking element 39 and the upper wall 31 ofthe tube 17 there is a compression spring 49, the prestress of which canbe set by an adjusting feature. The adjusting feature is formed by asetscrew 51. Thus the pulling force in the fishing line with which theblocking of the spring is released and the hooking of the fish takesplace can be adjusted.

[0032] To further adjust the pulling force in the fishing line withwhich the blocking of the spring is released, on the sensor there is aline guide element 50, which can be moved along the sensor. By movingthe line guide element 50 the place on the sensor on which the pullingforce in the fishing line works is changed, such that the lever functionis influenced.

[0033] On the tube 17 there is also a clamping device 53 for clampingthe fishing line 13, which comes from the reel 9 of the fishing rod 3(see FIG. 1). With this clamping device 53 it can be prevented thatduring the hooking of the fish the fishing line 13 is unwound from thereel 9, such that the hooking length is decreased. The clamping device53 comprises a moveable clamp element 55, which can clamp the fishingline against another fixed clamp element 57 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Betweenthe moveable and fixed clamp element there is a spring 58 that when thefishing line is released presses the two clamping devices away from eachother. A sliding button 59 can move the moveable clamp element 55. Theclamping device 53 is adjustable in two sections by two different camprofiles 61 and 63 on the sliding button 59. In a first section two pins64 are moved on the moveable clamp element 55 in two holes in the fixedclamp element 57. In this position the fishing line is enclosed betweenthe two pins 64 and the fixed clamp element 57 and the line can still bepulled taut behind the pins 64 (see FIG. 3). In the second section thefishing line is clamped in between the two clamp elements 55 and 57 (seeFIG. 5).

[0034] The adjustment of the fishing device 1 goes like this. First thesliding element 25 is pulled down. Now the blocking device 37 turns,such that the blocking pawl 41 comes in the notch 43 of the slidingelement 25. Then the angler pulls the fishing line out of the fishingrod, hooks this via slots 65 behind the hook 27 and places it over thesensor 47. Then the button 59 of the clamping device 53 is moved overthe first section, and pulling on the side of the reel 9 on the fishingline 13 pulls the fishing line 13 taut. Then the fishing line is clampedsecurely by sliding the button 59 over the second section. Now thefishing device 1 is set.

[0035] On the tube 17 there is also a loosening device 67 fordeactivating the clamping device 53. The loosening device 67 isactivated at the end of the hooking motion by the sliding element 25. Tothis end the loosening device 67 has a sliding stop 69, which is presenton the sliding sleeve 21, and a coupling device, which connects the stop69 and the button 59 with each other. The coupling device in thisexample is formed by a pawl 71. At the end of the spring motion thesliding element 25 goes against the stop 69, which thus slides a bit andthen pulls the button 59 away via the pawl 71. By the spring 58 betweenthe clamp element 55 and the tube 17 the moveable clamp element 55 ispushed away from the fixed clamp element 57 and the fishing line isreleased. The loosening device 67 is also part of the release devicementioned above.

[0036] The working of the fishing device 1 is as follows. If after theadjustment of the fishing device a fish bites, there will be a pull onthe fishing line. Then the sensor 47 will be moved and the blockingelement 39 will turn, such that the sliding element 25 is released. Thenthe draw spring 23 will loosen and it will pull the sliding element 25through the tube 17. The hook 27 on the sliding element 25 pulls thefishing line along. When the draw spring 23 is released, suddenly agreat force will be exerted on the fishing line. The pins 64 first ofall compensate for the sudden great force in the fishing line and thusrelease the clamping of the fishing line.

[0037] Near the end of the spring motion, at the site of the opening 35in the sleeve 21, the hook 27 turns over through the resistance that itexperiences from the fishing line. In addition, the sliding element 25goes against the stop 69 at the end of the spring motion, such that theclamping device 53 can release the fishing line. The fishing line is nowfree and is pulled by the fish from the fishing device 1. The angler canthen pick up his fishing rod 3 and land the fish, without having tofirst take the fishing line 13 from the fishing device 1.

[0038] To make the hooking of the fishing line behind the hook 27 viathe slots 65 easier, the fishing device 1 has a line feed system 73. Theline feed system 73 has two protrusions 75 that are present on the upperwall 31 of the tube 17 on one side of the slots 65 in the tube. The linefeed system 73 also has two other protrusions 77 that are also on thetube 17 on the other side of the slots 65 and that stick out past theside walls 79 of the tube 17.

[0039] At the adjustment of the fishing device 1 the fishing line isslid over the upper wall 31 of the tube 17 in the direction of the pin19 until the fishing line comes via the slots 65 under the protrusions75. The fishing line is held on each side wall 79 of the tube 17 andextends crosswise over the tube. Subsequently, the fishing line isshifted in the opposite direction until up against lip 29. Then thefishing line is brought downward to behind the hook 27. Finally, thepieces of fishing line sticking out of the tube are brought upward wherethey hook behind the protrusions 77 and are led via these protrusions 77to the centre of the tube 17. Then a piece of the fishing line can beplaced over the sensor 47 and the other piece can be brought through theclamping device 53.

[0040] Although in the above the invention is explained on the basis ofthe drawings, it should be noted that the invention is in no way limitedto the embodiment shown in the drawings. The invention also extends toall embodiments deviating from the embodiment shown in the drawingswithin the context defined by the claims.

[0041] The spring device for example can also be formed by an airspring. During the ‘tautening’ a piston compresses air in a chamber. Inthis ‘tautened’ condition the piston is blocked. The piston has amoveable hook. On ‘release’ the air pressure moves the piston and thehook takes the fishing line along.

[0042] The sliding sleeve is not necessary for the working of thefishing device but is useful for its better functioning. If the slidingsleeve is not used, instead of a long opening a small opening should bepresent near the free end of the tube to facilitate the turning over ofthe hook. The place where the hook then turns over is not adjustable.

[0043] The clamping device need not be adjustable in two sections. Ifthe clamping device is only adjustable between a release and a clampposition and cannot fulfil a holding function, so that the fishing lineis moveable, the holding function should be fulfilled by other means,for example by hooks that are placed near the clamping device on theside walls of the tube.

[0044] It is also clear that the fishing device can also be usedindependently, that is to say without working with a fishing rod. Thisis for example favourable in fishing on frozen water via a hole in theice. Here it is not useful to use a fishing rod and one can only workwith the fishing device. After being hooked the fish can be landed byhand by pulling on the fishing line.

1. Fishing device suitable for cooperating with a fishing rod, forautomatically hooking a fish, comprising a frame, a spring device forgiving a pull on the fishing line at the moment that a fish pulls on thefishing line, which spring device is coupled to the frame with one end,a blocking device to keep the spring device taut, a deblocking devicefor deactivating the blocking device at the moment that a fish pulls onthe fishing line, and a carrier device for cooperating with a fishingline, which carrier device is coupled to the other end of the springdevice, characterized in that the fishing device also comprises aclamping device, which is connected to the frame for clamping a fishingline, as well as a loosening device for deactivating the clampingdevice, which loosening device is activated when the carrier device ismoved, preferably near or at the end of the movement of the carrierdevice.
 2. Fishing device according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe clamping device is adjustable in two sections, a first section wherethe fishing line is enclosed and a second section where the fishing lineis clamped tightly.
 3. Fishing device according to claim 1 or 2,characterized in that the loosening device comprises a moveable stopagainst which the carrier device stops, which stop is coupled via acoupling device to the clamping device, and which stop releases theclamping when it is moved.
 4. Fishing device according to claim 1, 2, or3, characterized in that the carrier device comprises a hook that canturn over such that the fishing line is released.
 5. Fishing deviceaccording to claim 4, characterized in that the place where the hook canturn over is adjustable.
 6. Fishing device according to claim 4 or 5,characterized in that the frame comprises a tube, the spring devicecomprises a spring that can be moved in the tube, and the carrier devicecomprises a sliding element that can be moved in the tube, which isconnected to the spring and on which the hook is fastened and can turn,whereby the hook is kept from turning by an upper wall of the tube andcan turn at the site of the opening in the upper wall of the tube. 7.Fishing device according to claim 6, characterized in that the openingin the upper wall of the tube extends over a large part of the length,and the frame also has an element that can be slid over the tube, whichalso has an opening, whereby the hook is also kept from turning by theupper wall of the element, and can only turn at the site of the openingin the element.
 8. Fishing device according to one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that the fishing device comprises a releasedevice for releasing the fishing line after the spring device hasloosened.
 9. Fishing device according to claim 8, characterized in thatthe carrier device is part of the release device.
 10. Fishing deviceaccording to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the loosening device ispart of the release device.
 11. Fishing device according to one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the deblocking device comprisesa sensor, which during use is in contact with the fishing line and whentautening the fishing line moves and thus pulls the blocking deviceaway.
 12. Fishing device according to claim 11, characterized in thatthere is a line guide element present on the sensor, which can be movedalong the sensor.
 13. Fishing device according to claim 11 or 12,characterized in that the sensor can be moved against a spring force,and that the deblocking device comprises an adjusting feature foradjusting this spring force.
 14. Fishing device according to one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the fishing device alsocomprises a line feed system, which line feed system comprises aprotrusion that is present on the upper wall of the tube on one side ofa slot in the tube via which the fishing line is led to the carrierdevice, and which line feed system also comprises two other protrusionsthat are also on the tube on the other side of the slot and that stickout past the side walls of the tube.